I recently cut out most bread products and pastas from my diet and I feel fantastic! But I was getting bored with all my salad/bean/nut/fish dishes so had been on the lookout for new healthy meals and ideas. A friend of mine suggested ‘Quinoa’ which I’d never heard of.
I bought my first bag of quinoa the other day. Candy, the store manager, was telling lots of ways to cook it up and described it as ‘divine’. I thought ‘how could this seedy looking food be divine?’, but I’m open to trying anything healthy so off I went!
Candy was right! This simple food is just incredible and so versatile! Once you’ve soaked and cooked it, you can throw it in soups, eat it cold in salad, throw some egg in it and cook it up, add veggies, or just eat it on its own (and so much more!). Great to have for breakfast too.
Apparently you are supposed to soak quinoa for a few hours to help remove the outer shell. This helps with digestion. I haven’t done this but will do in the future. You then cook much like rice – 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. Cook for about 15 minutes or until done to your liking.
I found some fantastic information from this website article on quinoa.
- Complete protein. Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body as building blocks for muscles.
- Magnesium helps relax your muscles and blood vessels and effects blood pressure. Quinoa contains high levels of this vital nutrient.
- Fiber. Quinoa is a wonderful way to ensure that you consume valuable fiber that eases elimination and tones your colon.
- Manganese and copper. Quinoa is a good source of these minerals that act as antioxidants in your body to get rid of dangerous cancer and disease-causing substances.
- Quinoa is close to one of the most complete foods in nature because it contains amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
You can find quinoa in health food stores or you may also order it online.
I am very grateful to have stumbled across this very health, yummy and versatile food!
To your health,
You Be Healthy